Syrians Clash in Capital, Stifling Hope of Talks

By

Sam Dagher

Updated Feb. 7, 2013 12:11 p.m. ET

BEIRUT—Syrian opposition fighters faced off against regime forces in their fiercest battles in months in Damascus on Wednesday, in a push that many Syrian residents and activists saw as a bid by hard-line fighters to snuff recent efforts to start talks with Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The fiercest clashes took place on the city's east side and briefly touched the busy Abaseen Square traffic circle, according to residents and opposition activists. Several compounds affiliated with government security and intelligence...